Balkan truckers press EU over Schengen stay limits
Truck and freight transporters from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia protested Monday against Schengen stay restrictions affecting professional drivers, calling for a solution ahead of a Sept. 1 meeting in Brussels.
Protests were held outside European Union delegations in Sarajevo, Belgrade, Podgorica and Skopje as transporters urged authorities to address the 90/180-day rule, which limits citizens of non-EU countries to 90 days in the Schengen area within any 180-day period.
Transport companies say the rule creates serious difficulties for drivers who regularly cross into the Schengen area for work and can remain there for extended periods because of their professional duties.
Drivers say current rules threaten transport sector
In Sarajevo, protesters gathered near the Bosnian parliament before marching to the EU delegation.
Nikola Brkovic of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina said professional drivers should not be treated in the same way as tourists or migrants because their presence in the Schengen area is work-related.
In Belgrade, transporters also gathered outside the EU delegation and submitted a letter urging the restrictions to be addressed.
Dusan Nikolic of Serbia’s International Transport Association warned that further protests could take place at border crossings on Sept. 14 if the Brussels discussions fail to produce a solution.
Regional transporters demand action
In Podgorica, Transporters Association President Dordije Ljesnjak said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to the issue before discussions among Schengen countries.
“This is not a protest against the EU, but a protest for a solution, for the right of professional drivers to work and for the survival of Montenegrin transport companies,” Ljesnjak said.
In Skopje, members of the Makam-Trans association protested outside the EU delegation. Secretary General Biljana Muratovska said transporters had been waiting for a solution for seven months and urged officials to place the issue on the agenda of the Brussels meeting.
North Macedonia seeks bilateral agreements
North Macedonia’s Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikolloski said the government was working on bilateral agreements with Schengen countries to ease the restrictions.
He said agreements had already been reached with Switzerland, Croatia and Romania, while talks were planned with Austria, Slovenia and Germany.
Transporters from the four countries have warned of additional protests at EU border crossings on Sept. 14 if no agreement is reached.
The dispute has been ongoing since January, when Western Balkan transporters protested over the enforcement of Schengen stay rules. The European Commission later said it would address concerns raised by professional drivers.
Source:AA
